Cold fogging device for gas mains



Dec. 27, 1955 H. w. KOWENSTROT EI'AL 2,728,649

COLD FOGGING DEVICE FOR GAS MAINS Filed Sept. 8, 1951 INVENTORS .%u 4r0 fl fiver/sire)! a:

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i a? jldor/Yq 2 ,6 9. Patented Dec. 27, 1955 2,728,649 corn FOGGING DEVICE FOR GAS MAINS Howard W. Kowenstrot and Frank C. Wohlrabe, Milwaukee, Wis, assignors to Atomite Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a partnership Application September 8, 1951, Serial No. 245,674

3 Claims. (Cl. 48-190) This invention relates to a cold fogging device and is primarily directed to a device for spraying heavy oil into gas mains.

In the manufacture of artificial gas, solid particles are carried into the mains and are deposited. When the system is changed over to natural gas, it has been found that the solid particles are dried out and become a fine powder. This fine powder is entrained by the traveling gas and floats or drifts through the mains. Frequently, the floating powder or floating solid particles cause trouble by clogging the pilot lights in various heating appliances.

Various attempts have been made to overcome the objectionable features hereinabove noted but they have not proven wholly satisfactory. One of the attempts included the projecting of hot oil spray or vapor into the mains, but it was found that relatively heavy droplets were formed. While the exact scientific principle is not known at the present time, it is believed that there may be a difference in the electrostatic charge betwen a particle condensed from a vapor phase and a mechanically atomized particle which would affect its rate of agglomeration.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects and it has been found that the major portion of the defects hereinabove enumerated can be overcome by using a cold fogging process whereby oil in a cold state at atmospheric temperatures, for instance, is employed and is very finely atomized by using a whirling or other type of spray and by having the oil under high pressure. This invention is primarily directed to the apparatus whereby the above process may be carried out.

This invention is designed to provide a device for cold fogging, that is to say for spraying heavy oil or other suitable material into gas mains so as to cause the finely atomized oil to become entrained in the traveling gas stream and to be carried along with the gas and to wet down the dust and the sides of the pipe for a great dis tance, for example, as much as five miles, and thereby prevent drifting of the solid particles.

Further objects are to provide a cold fogging device which is easy to insert into a gas cock or similar fitting carried by the gas mains, which is so made that during insertion and also during transportation of the device the nozzle for fine atomization of the heavy oil is protected, and in which the nozzle is readily projected downwardly into the gas main and may be quickly locked in place against shifting due to gas pressure.

Further objects are to provide a cold fogging device which is of very simple and rugged construction, which is so made that it may be screwed into a gas cock or other similar fitting and may be projected into the gas main, in which the nozzle may be pointing in the direction of the flow of gas by suitably aligning flats or other indicating means on the outwardly projecting stem of the device with the axis of the gas main, and in which means are provided to prevent the stem frombeing inadvertently blown outwardly when the set screw or other locking means is released.

Cir

in Figure 3.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the ac companying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view partly broken away showing the device inserted in a gas main.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view partly broken away of the lower portion of the device.

Figure 3 is a view of the lower portion of the device showing it inserted in the gas cock.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the gas mains have been indicated by the reference character 1.

These gas mains are usually provided with gas cocks or other fittings 2 which are provided with a rotary valve portion 3 through which a passageway 4 is formed, see Figure 3. Normally this cock or valve is in a closed position.

When it is desired to insert the device the body portion 5 of the device is screwed into the open end of the cock 2 as shown in Figure 3 and thereafter the cock is opened and the nozzle is projected downwardly into the gas mains. It is shown partly projected into the gas main The device comprises a body portion 5 which has a threaded lower part 6 adapted to be screwed into the open end of the gas cock. The body portion 5 is provided with flats 6 to facilitate screwing it into place. The body portion 5 slidably carries a longitudinally slidable or reciprocable pipe or tubular stem 7, suitable packing 8 being provided and being compressed by means of a gland 9 and a nut 10, the nut being provided with flat faces 11, see Figure 3, to facilitate screwing it into place.

The tubular stem 7 is a hollow pipe and screws into a, lower head 12 which is provided with a recess 13 within which anatomizing nozzle such as a whirling spray nozzle or other type of nozzle indicated at 14 is positioned. This nozzle communicates with the interior of the pipe or stem 7 by means of a duct 15 formed in the head 12. It is to be noted from reference to Figure 2 that the main body portion 5 is provided with an inwardly projecting annular portion 16 which forms a shoulder 17 against which the head may be seated as shown in Figure 2, when the head is fully retracted or housed within the body portion 5. Also it is to be noted that the shoulder 17 prevents the outward projecting of the head 12 and stem 7 due to the internal pressure within the gas mains 1 in the event the locking means for the stem 7 is inadvertently released. This locking means may consist of a set screw 18 threaded through the nut Ill and engaging a soft metal slug or plug 19 so as not to mar the outer surface of the stem or pipe 7.

After the body portion 5 is screwed into place in the cock 2, see Figure 3, the cock is opened as shown in Figure 3 and the stem 7 is pushed downwardly until the nozzle 14 occupies approximately a central position within the gas mains 1. Thereafter the stop-cock 2d, see Figure 1, is opened and heavy oil under pressure is projected from the nozzle into the gas mains in the same direction as the flow or" gas therethrough. This is accomplished by properly aligning the flats 21, see Figure 3, with respect tothe axis of the gas main. The oil under pressure may be supplied by means of a pump indicated generally by the reference character 22, see Figure l, driven from any suitable motor means such as the gas engine 23, the oil being drawn from the supply tank 24.

The gas pressure within the gas main may, for example, be 50 pounds per square inch and the oil pressure may be from to 225 pounds per square inch. These figures are given merely as illustrations and are not intended in any sense as limitations. The oil pressure may be read by means of a pressure gage such as indicated at 25, see Figure 1.

The operation of spraying oil in a very fine mist into the gas mains is continued for quite a long period of time, for example, 4 or 5 hours if desired. It has been found that the finely divided atomized oil is frequently carried to great distances, for example, it has been found that the oil has been carried up to five miles in the gas mains.

In order to protect the fine spray nozzle from getting stopped by solid particles in the heavy oil, a filter or removable screen indicated by the reference character 26 in Figure 2 is provided and is interposed between the pipe or stern 7 and duct 15. This screen is freely removable by unscrewing it from the head 12, after the head has been unscrewed from the pipe 7.

After the spraying has been completed the set screw 18 is loosened and the stem 7 pulled up until the head 12 engages the shoulder 17, see Figure 2'. Thereafter the set screw is again tightened. Following this the gas cock 2 is closed and as a last step the body portion is unscrewed from the gas cock 2. During the transportation of the apparatus to some other point along the gas mains the spray nozzle is fully housed and protected within the body portion as described hereinabove.

This device is readily and quickly applied at any point along the mains. Also it is relatively simple and is not heavy and may be easily handled and transported.

It is to be noted that term oil is to be understood as meaning oil or any other suitable material.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

We claim:

1. A cold fogging device for gas mains comprising a body portion having a threaded end adapted to be screwed into a threaded fitting carried by the gas main, a tubular stem slidably carried by said body portion, an atomizing nozzle attached to one end of said tubular stem, and locking means carried by said body portion for temporarily locking said stem against motion, said body portion and stem having interengaging means for preventing said stem from being blown outwardly by gas pressure when said locking means is released, said body portion having a recessed end for completely housing said nozzle when said interlocking means are in engagement.

2. A cold fogging device for gas mains comprising a body portion having a threaded end adapted to be screwed into a threaded valve controlled fitting carried by the gas main, a tubular stem slidably carried by the said body portion, a head slidably disposed within said body portion and secured to an end of said stem, a nozzle positioned within a recess formed in said head and communicating with said stem through a duct provided in said head and means provided in said body portion engageable by said head for limiting the movement of said head with respect to said body portion in at least one direction.

3. A cold fogging device for gas mains comprising a fitting provided with a threaded portion adapted to be permanently secured to a gas main, said fitting having a valve adapted to close communication through said fitting from the gas main to the outside air or adapted to be opened to provide communication therethrough, a removable body portion, said removable body portion and said fitting having interlocking meansfor temporarily securing said body portion to said fitting, said removable body portion having a slidable tubular stem extending therethrough provided with an atomizing head adapted to be projected into the gas main beyond said body portion through said fitting when said valve is opened, said tubular stem having an enlarged lower portion adapted to engage a part of the body portion to prevent inadvertent blowing of said tubular stem from said body portion by the gas pressure within said main and having means for temporarily locking said stem to said body portion with the head thereof projecting into said gas main, and packing means between said tubular stern and said body portion for allowing sliding motion of said stern and for preventing leaking of gas from said gas main around said stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,804 Fabri Jan. 26, 1909 2,067,454 Markle et a1 Jan. 12, 1937 2,073,311 May Mar. 9, 1937 2,290,258 Svet July 21, 1942 2,422,214 Meyer et al June 17, 1947 2,577,238 Edvinson et a1. Dec. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,762 Canada June 19, 1917 532,689 Germany Sept. 2, 1931 553,423 Germany June 25, 1932 614,582 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1948 

2. A COLD FOGGING DEVICE FOR GAS MAINS COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING A THREADED END ADAPTED TO BE SCREWED INTO A THREADED VALVE CONTROLLED FITTING CARRIED BY THE GAS MAIN, A TUBULAR STEM SLIDABLY CARRIED BY THE SAID BODY PORTION, A HEAD SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BODY PORTION AND SECURED TO AN END OF SAID STEM, A NOZZLE POSITIONED WITHIN A RECESS FORMED IN SAID HEAD AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID STEM THROUGH A DUCT PROVIDED IN SAID HEAD AND MEANS PROVIDED IN SAID BODY PORTION ENGAGEABLE BY SAID HEAD FOR LIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID HEAD WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY PORTION IN AT LEAST ONE DIRECTION. 